General
World Storytelling Day on 20th March
World Storytelling Day is a global celebration of the art of oral storytelling. It is celebrated every year on the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere, the first day of autumn equinox in the southern. On World Storytelling Day, as many people as possible tell and listen to stories in as many languages and at as many places as possible, during the same day and night. Participants tell each other about their events in order to share stories and inspiration, to learn from each other and create international contacts.The significance in the event lies in the fact that it is the first global celebration of storytelling of its kind, and has been important in forging links between storytellers often working far apart from each other. It has also been significant in drawing public and media attention to storytelling as an art form.
Event History
World Storytelling Day has its roots in a national day for storytelling in Sweden, circa 1991-2. At that time, an event was organized for March 20 in Sweden called “Alla berättares dag” (All storytellers day). The Swedish national storytelling network passed out some time after, but the day stayed alive, celebrated around the country by different enthusiasts. In 1997, storytellers in Perth, Western Australia coordinated a five-week-long Celebration of Story, commemorating March 20 as the International Day of Oral Narrators. At the same time, in Mexico and other Latin American countries, March 20 was already celebrated as the National Day of Storytellers.
When the Scandinavian storytelling web-network, Ratatosk, started around 2001, Scandinavian storytellers started talking, and in 2002, the event spread from Sweden to Norway, Denmark, Finland and Estonia. In 2003, the idea spread to Canada and other countries, and the event has become known internationally as World Storytelling Day. Starting around 2004, France participated with the event Jour Mondial du Conte. World Storytelling Day 2005 had a grande finale on Sunday March 20. There were events from 25 countries on 5 continents, and 2006 saw the program grow further. 2007 was the first time a storytelling concert was held in Newfoundland, Canada. In 2008 The Netherlands took part in World Storytelling Day with a big event called ‘Vertellers in de Aanval’ on March the 20th; three thousand kids were surprised by the sudden appearance of storytellers in their classrooms.
In 2009, there were World Storytelling Day events in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America and Australia.
Storytelling themes every year
Each year, many of the individual storytelling events that take place around the globe are linked by a common theme. Each year, the theme is identified by and agreed upon by storytellers from around the world using the WSD listserve
· 2004 – Birds
· 2005 – Bridges
· 2006 – The Moon
· 2007 – The Wanderer
· 2008 – Dreams
· 2009 – Neighbours
· 2010 – Light and Shadow
· 2011 – Water
· 2012 – Trees
· 2013 – Fortune and Fate
· 2014 – Monsters and Dragons
· 2015 – Wishes
Invite
Do come over with your lovely little kids for storytelling event O Kabuliwale! for kids and adults-accompanying-kids, parents and teachers on 8th February at 11 am at Oxford Book Store, CP(Opposite Statesman House building in Outer Circle)
Kabuliwala stories for kids and adults
The young and energetic Kabuliwala with his big turban is there for the kids through out the year to empty his jhola full of tales, which he has been gathering during his Indian journeys. Kabuliwala shows the kids what all treasures is he hiding for them in his jhola. Tagore’s Kabuliwala has been adapted theatrically and in form of a film but this one is not Tagore’s story but the character Kabuliwala has been brought alive with a lot of stories to meet the needs of the story hungry kids and adults.
Let your kids explore the world of stories, the smaller and the bigger ones. He’ll fill the appetite of the kids of listening to the stories. Do come along with your kids and explore the world of folktales with the master storyteller Kamal Pruthi, the Kabuliwala, who comes with a jhola full of folk tales.
Why Stories? And for whom?
Do you feel that your kids are getting alienated from their mother tongues and need to be brought closer to their roots?
• Do you feel the need to tell them the stories to acquaint the kids about the rich culture of our country, heritage, villages and the value system?
• Do you feel the need that your kids should be a bit patient and have better listening skills?
• Do you feel that at times you fail to channelize the high energies of your kids?
• Do you feel the need that somebody in the family knew those wonderful forgotten stories of dada-dadi, nana-nani and could tell them to your kids?If the answer to any of these questions is YES, then do come along with your kids and explore the world of folktales with kamal pruthi, the kabuliwala, the master storyteller who comes with a jhola full of folk tales. Young and renowned theatre director is popular for his unique styles of storytelling for kids and adults and out of the box use of spaces.
Do you feel that your kids are getting alienated from their mother tongues and need to be brought closer to their roots?
• Do you feel the need to tell them the stories to acquaint the kids about the rich culture of our country, heritage, villages and the value system?
• Do you feel the need that your kids should be a bit patient and have better listening skills?
• Do you feel that at times you fail to channelize the high energies of your kids?
• Do you feel the need that somebody in the family knew those wonderful forgotten stories of dada-dadi, nana-nani and could tell them to your kids?If the answer to any of these questions is YES, then do come along with your kids and explore the world of folktales with kamal pruthi, the kabuliwala, the master storyteller who comes with a jhola full of folk tales. Young and renowned theatre director is popular for his unique styles of storytelling for kids and adults and out of the box use of spaces.
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